* A former PC was accused of being an witness to the “whole Hillsborough lie”

Michael Ryan told the court he was in the police control box at the ground when match commander David Duckenfield had a conversation with FA chief Graham Kelly.

But Mr Ryan said he didn’t hear any of the discussion, in which Mr Duckenfield falsely claimed Liverpool fans had forced a gate, causing the disaster.

Mark George, representing 22 of the families, said: “You were, possibly I suggest unwittingly and probably unwillingly, but you were a witness to the cover up?

“The whole Hillsborough lie, the whole saga started in that little room and you were closer to Mr Duckenfield and Mr Kelly than you are to me now and you witnessed the whole thing, didn’t you?”

Mr Ryan said that was totally untrue.

* None of the officers in the control box recorded a conversation between David Duckenfield and FA chief Graham Kelly in their initial statements

Questioning Mr Ryan, Mr George said: “Would you be interested to know that not a single person in that control box that afternoon noted this meeting that afternoon?

“That is strange, isn’t it?”

Mr Ryan said: “Not particularly, no.”

* A police log recorded an officer as being “nervous” and requesting legal advice if he was asked to complete a further statement about the Hillsborough disaster

The court was shown a West Midlands Police log which referred to a request to re-interview Michael Ryan, a constable who was in the police control box on the day, about a tannoy message asking fans to clear the pitch.

But no further action was taken after officers spoke to Mr Ryan.

The log said: “He is very nervous about making a further statement at this stage and if one is requested he may well seek legal advice.”

Mr Ryan said he couldn’t recall that.

* Seven minutes after the match was stopped the BBC had false information that a gate had been broken

The court heard BBC commentator John Motson had told viewers the gates had been broken.

Mr George told the court: “At 13 minutes past 3 Mr Motson told the world, ‘The story emerges that one of the outside gates leading into that terrace was broken. People without tickets got in, were therefore overcrowding the people with tickets and that’s why the crush occurred’.”

Mr Ryan said he had no idea how Mr Motson got that information and said he had no recollection of being contacted by the BBC in the control box.

* Police officers were seen holding fans back as they tried to climb fences to escape the crush